My cousin is getting married. She is a few years older than me. She has been seeing her fella for about 10 years? Maybe a little less. They live together. They did split up for a while, due to erm....fear of commitment? I think that was the terminology used. Anyway, now they are getting married. The wedding of the century. On Sept 11th (hmm) they will tie the knot. This wedding has taken three years to plan. It has cost ALOT of money, and they are all excited, they can't wait. Now I am just a miserable bottom, I completely admit it, but if I have to hear ONE more thing about flowers, and meals and dresses, I am going to go insane! Seriously! Somewhere over this three year period, the roots of the wedding have been forgotten, and in their place is the little fashion show they have got in mind. I just can't stand it. It is no longer about them loving each other and declaring it to each other, and in front of those they love. Oh no, now it is about how everything looks, and what everyone else thinks. They want to impress. Grrr.

I love weddings. I am a sucker for romance. I'm the one that's in floods of tears as soon as the first words are spoken, and I just get worse. I am a true romantic. All this crap just for show though, I can't stand it. Who cares if you have picked the most expensive flowers, dress? Who cares if you are serving a three course meal, to 500 of your closest friends. Just who cares? I don't think I even know 500 people. Do you start inviting everyone you've ever said hello too? How does that work? I voiced these opinions to my sister, and she just thinks I am miserable. She could be right. She thinks my cousin should do whatever she wants. It is one of the biggest days in a girls life, and you should do whatever to make it special. Blah. I agreed, if all the frills float her boat, then more power to her. I have to ask myself though, is it worth it for the sake of what other people think? Organinsing everything, the cost, and the time it's taken. Is it seriously worth it? I am guessing to some people it is.

To be fair, I was never one of these little girls who dreamt of getting married, and have always had a picture in my head of how I would like the big day to be. That just isn't me. In my opinion there are more important things to consider, like catching the poor fool that will end up marrying me for starters. So maybe my point of view on this is all a little messed up. This is the way I see it. You get married because you love someone. You know you want to spend the rest of your life with them, and they will be your partner throughout the good times and the bad times. You have a day where you feel like a princess (note: princess doesn't mean because you have bought the most expensive dress in the shop, it's because you are beautiful regardless in the eyes of the man you love) and you declare your love for this extremely special person in front of the people that you love, and who mean something to you. That's the way I see it.

These days, cousins 15 times removed get invited, and you actually get introduced to them on your wedding day. What is that about? I think keeping things simple can be the key, and no matter how much time you spend organinsing that one day, and no matter how much money you spend, it will be special regardless. Because lets face it that day is only about two people. It is about them, and how they feel, and how they are committing to each other. Nothing else compares to that my friends. The party, the food, the music, the flowers, the gifts, nothing compares to what that day is really about, and that, is, love.

I don't want the big wedding day. It just wouldn't suit me, and the way I am. I can't think of anything worse, than people looking at ME all day. I know that is the attraction for many brides to be, to be the centre of attention. I just don't want that. I don't want to spend three years worrying about everyone else. Who I am going to invite, who can sit with who, what I shoud serve to eat. Stupid problems, that just are not significant. I would much prefer to go away somewhere, with a few close family and friends, and have a nice laid back wedding, and just enjoy the important stuff. I am not saying you don't have that with big weddings, I am just saying that different things suit different people. That's just the way it works. I would much prefer that, than the stress my cousin has suffered so far.